Pad Saddle Item Number: 91.95.21 from the Portland Art Museum
Description
By the mid-eighteenth century horses had spread throughout the Plains region. As Plains Indian peoples became expert horsemen, they began to create a variety of trappings for their horses. Derived from Spanish pack saddles, pad saddles were commonly made by peoples of the northern and northeastern Plains such as the Plains Cree. Pad saddles are usually rectangular or oval tanned leather tubes stuffed with grass or moose hair. A band of tanned leather sewn across the middle provides an attachment for the stirrups. Floral beaded decoration covers the corners, from which hang beaded panels that are often further embellished with yarn tassels.
Collection History Provenance
The Elizabeth Cole Butler Collection.
Item History
- Made by Cree artist during 1885
What
- Name
- Pad Saddle
- Identification Number
- 91.95.21
- Type of Item
- pad saddle
- Material
- leather, glass bead and wool yarn
- Overall
- height 6.0 in, width 8.75 in, depth 16.5 in
Who
- Culture
- Cree
- Creator
- Cree artist
Where
- Holding Institution
- Portland Art Museum
- Made in
- “Plains” ?
When
- Creation Date
- during 1885
Other
- Categories
- Plains; Animal Equipment